New NCAA rule change could help Wilkins

[Da Coach]

The NCAA is considering a rule change that would not penalize foreign players who played alongside professional players, as long as they did not get paid more than expenses.
http://tourney.si.com/2010/03/24/new-rule-could-clear-way-for-kanter/?eref=sihp

This rule would benefit Enes Kanter, a high-profile recruit who just verballed to kentucky, but it could also apply to Wilkins, and maybe his 5-game penalty would be lifted.

 

[tornado]

This was first announced way back last SUMMER.....and is supposed to possibly kick into effect in August of 2010...
but will Wilkins have to abide by the OLD ruling or will he be eligible under this new rule to play right away?
http://www.omaha.com/article/20090723/SPORTS/707239785
http://bradleyfans.com/vb/showthread.php?p=144063#post144063

But noted elsewhere, Kanter didn't just play a few minutes in a couple games with a pro team...he was one of their key players and the suspicion exists that he was compensated...
Plus...several reports say he has no academic records from Europe and desperately needed to get eligible via an American high school - but that has yet to happen.....it'll be curious to see if he gets treated the same regarding initial college eligibility as John Wilkins did, then if he goes to juco, will he be eligible there?
http://www.zagsblog.com/2009/10/14/the-curious-case-of-enes-kanter/
BTW - Kanter had verballed to Washington, then suddenly renegs and verbals to Calipari -- ??? Hmmm...follow the $$

 

[Da Coach]

Watch for other top uncommitted stars to commit to Kentucky as soon as it becomes official which current players will bolt for the NBA. It's almost certain that underclassmen John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, and Patrick Patterson will go pro, leaving a bunch of open roster spots. That's the main reson Kanter switched to Kentucky, and watch for former Tennessee commit Josh Selby, or top uncommitted guard Brandon Knight to go there, too.

Note that Kentiucky is listed with every uncommitted kid in the top 20 for 2010. They are all waiting to see which roster spots open up, and maybe waiting for Calipari's bag men to call? -
http://scouthoops.scout.com/a.z?s=75&p=9&c=4&pid=88&yr=2010

 

[tornado]

Actually - five different players on the Kentucky roster could leave for the NBA...

Three are a lock for the top of the 1st round, but both Bledsoe & Orton are also possible first rounders...
http://www.kentucky.com/2010/03/25/1196101/uks-bledsoe-orton-taking-serious.html

and the several TOP 2010 recruits out there like Brandon Knight, Josh Selby, CJ Leslie, Terrence Jones (all 5-Star, Top 20 recruits) are likely to immediately gobble up those open schoarships...but I doubt they will do for UK what Wall & Cousins have done...